Idiom - Give Someone Some Slack

Meaning

• To treat (someone) in a less harsh or critical way
• To not judge someone as severely as you usually would because they are having problems at the present time

Examples

• “Bill’s late again.” “Cut him some slack - his wife just had a baby.”
• Would you give/cut me some slack? I’m doing the best I can.
• When you’re new at a job, colleagues and bosses cut you a little slack. They forgive minor mistakes because you’re new.